SNOWY SHEATHBILL

The 'Snowy Sheathbill' ''(Chionis alba)'' also known as a 'Pale-faced sheathbill' or 'Paddy' is one of two species of sheathbill. It is usually found on the ground. It is Antarctica's only permanently land-based bird.^[1]

Contents

Description

Range

Diet

References

Description

A Snowy Sheathbill is about 15-16 inches long, with a wingspan of 30-31.5 inches. They are pure white except for their pink warty faces (''Chionis alba'' means "snow white".)^[2]

Range

The Snowy Sheathbill lives in Antarctica, the Scotia Arc, the South Orkneys and South Georgia. Snowy Sheathbills living very far south migrate north in winter.

Diet

The Snowy Sheathbill is a scavenger that will eat anything, including any kind of droppings and steals penguin eggs. A Snowy Sheathbill has been seen eating a tapeworm that had been living in a Chinstrap Penguin's intestine.

References

1. The Encyclopedia of World Wildlife, , Mike and Peggy, Briggs, Parragon Publishing, 2004,
2. The Scoop on Poop, , Wayne, Lynch, Fifth House Books, September 26, 2001,

Snowy Sheathbill with Adelie Penguins (white bird in center)